Chairman backs fellow board member


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» Home » Archive » 2007 » November 2007 » Issue 531 November 9 » Chairman backs fellow board member

Chairman backs fellow board member

By Bendigo Weekly

Local News Chariman on board member Beard #531

COLIBAN Water’s new chairman John Brooke has stood by board member David Beard amidst another high-level controversy.
The metropolitan media last weekend revealed French-owned company Veolia Environment has a 25-year contract with Coliban to build and
operate plants that supply
water to the region, as well as a contract for reclamation plants at Kyneton and Castlemaine.
Mr Beard is the commercial services manager for Veolia
Environmental Services, one of the companies in the Veolia stable.
Mr Brooke told the Bendigo Weekly this week the situation did “not necessarily” look bad for the water corporation.
“None of the contracts with Veolia were entered into while David was on the board,” he said. “Secondly, David works for the environmental part of Veolia, not the water part of it.
“Thirdly, that is a matter that is disclosed on our website.”
Mr Brooke said both the board and Mr Beard handled the situation professionally.
“David is pretty experienced about this and he knows what to do,” he said.
“If we have a Veolia contract in front of us at any stage, then he will leave the room before we start to talk about and stays out until we have voted.
“I think it is manageable.”
anthony@bendigoweekly.com.au